Ace Nigerian producer and music executive Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has said that Afrobeats remains “a baby” compared to other established global music genres, despite its remarkable achievements over the years.
He pointed out that artists and industry players within Afrobeats are still learning, emphasizing that the music landscape continues to evolve rapidly.
Don Jazzy also reflected on how the cost of promoting Nigerian music has surged, noting that what once seemed expensive is now considered modest by today’s standards.
The Mavin Records boss reiterated that he remains open to learning from those who have excelled in areas he has yet to explore, whether within the music industry or beyond.
In a detailed post on X, he wrote,
“This our beloved Afrobeats is still a baby genre in the grand scheme of things. We are all still learning everyday as the game is ever changing. If you told me just 6 years ago that an afrobeats video could cost over 20m Naira I would say ahh that’s way too much o. But behold some of us have shot videos over 100k dollars. If Burna tells me what it takes to do multiple international stadium shows, I will take notes cos I never run am before. If Dangote tells me what it cost to build a refinery in Lagos I will learn from him. That said, my people if I tell you how to run a successful record label in Nigeria, I will advise you take notes even if na small note cos we no plenty wey don run am.”
Don jazzy remarks underscore both the growth of Afrobeats and the ongoing learning curve for those pushing the genre forward.
